Helen’s Flight

I leave my husband, daughter, homeland, and slip away in the dark shroud of night.
The orange-red glow of the moon is veiled with clouds, Artemis’ hand already at play in this.
My own hand wraps around Paris’ fingers, my heartbeat is the phantom of Menelaus’ footsteps behind me. The ship waits at Gythium, water lapping its sides, gentle like my fingers stroking Hermione’s face.

wind whispers
a crow caws
Apollo’s triumph

We board the ship, my feet numb like ice. My skin smells of the salt-spray of the sea, the night air,
the heavy-wine scent of the watching gods – I know they are there, have known since Paris sent that knife-gaze into my heart. His hand cups my face, the thief coveting his prize. We raise anchor, and sail with the dawn.

the sharp horizon
a knife across the sun
blood in the water

—Caroline Hron Weigle

This gorgeous poem was written by the lovely Caroline Hron Weigle. Remember her name – she is an up and coming historical romance writer.

I painted the piece above a few years ago. I’d never given much thought to her name before – now she has one.

I hope you’re all doing well.

annmarie:)

Seeing through the Flog

It is Valentine’s Day 2014. Outside is covered in snow too deep to even call it a blanket – it’s more like one of those comforters you start to shop for when you’re nearing 50 ’cause you’re always cold except on the nights you rip all the covers off ’cause your beyond human sweat.

Truth be told this is my second attempt at blogging. I began a blog 2 years ago (if I remember correctly) but stopped, fearing I didn’t quite grasp the medium. Here I am two years later hoping I’m a wee bit smarter because I read a blog book and watched WP tutorials. My fifteen-year old daughter can’t believe my tech ignorance at times, but in those moments I gently remind her how I helped her with some HS art projects  ’cause that’s what comes naturally to me. My thirteen-year old son will simply sigh and return to playing Xbox (during his alotted time of course!).

I’ve written over nine manuscripts (submitted to the big houses and have built an extensive rejection file thick enough to be used as booster seat – I did get a few second reads – those positive rejections have kept me writing), I draw and paint, sometimes attempt poetry, I now write a little monthly column for my local paper, I enjoy coming up with catchy slogans or images on tees, – in short, I’m all over the place and my places aren’t always connected. This new blog, anntogether is my best hope for getting all the things I love in one place while reading and seeing and enjoying what others do in this ginormous, creative community.

So here’s to a day of love, snow-shoveling and thinking good thoughts.

ps Please bear with me on my blog’s nakedness. I hope to add picts and color…as I go…